Haggai
2 reminds me of the two strongest motivators in life. People will do
incomprehensible things out of Fear, and out of Love. Fear often
presents bad options. We can end up in terrible places for fear of
loneliness, or pain, or loss. Love on the other hand, can present
noble and uplifting options. The chapter begins, “Speak
to Zerubbabel… governor of Judah… the high priest, and to the
remnant of the people“. God
posed a question, “Who of you
is left who saw this house in its former glory?”
Remember the first Temple was built by Solomon with the resources of
the wealthiest man alive. How sad to see the heap of ruble that
remained. “How does it look to
you now?” Some today look
around and see the empty ruins in their life. God told the people to
do two things; “be strong…
and work“. And He tells them
why they no longer need to be stifled by fear, “For
I am with you“. Perhaps you
are thinking, easy for them to say. Remember, they were surrounded
by an enemy that wanted to kill them, and stop them from fixing
anything. To be clear, there is little improvement done while under
fear. For emphasis, God adds, “My
Spirit remains among you. Do not fear“.
Did you know God’s Spirit is available to you too?
Listen
to this promise, “In a little
while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth… what is
desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with
glory“. What earth-shaking
event is He referring to? He continues, “The
glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the
former house“. How could
anything be grander than Solomon’s Temple? “‘And
in this place I will grant
peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty“.
This rebuilt Temple would later be expanded under Herod. This was
the same Temple where Jesus Christ Himself would teach and worship
and heal. It was the work of Christ that made this Temple greater.
This short book closes with a new
realization. Although disease and impurity is easily spread by
touching; cleanliness and purity are not. One person with a virus
can enter a room full of healthy people. He will not be made well by
their health, but his sickness can spread to everyone else in the
room. He is saying that Israel is sick and needs to be cleansed.
“Whatever they do and whatever
they offer there is defiled“.
Hidden in the next verses are promises of hope and healing for us.
He notes, “give careful thought
to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid…
From this day on I will bless you“.
Notice that God will do the work, “I
will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign
kingdoms“. The chapter ends
with a picture, “On that day…
I will take you, My servant
Zerubbabel… and I will make you
like My signet ring, for I have chosen you… declares the Lord
Almighty“. What made the
builder-Governor so important? Interestingly, he is mentioned in the
genealogies of both Mary and Joseph (Matthew 1:12 and Luke 3:27). He
is the symbolic transition to the New Covenant of Christ. The Spirit
of God dwells in us by faith. 1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us “Do
you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is
in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
you were bought at a price“.
In love, Christ paid the price for my sin, so that I no longer need
to live in fear. Is it time to rebuild your temple into something
greater than the former? Friend, Christ has chosen you! Please do
not let fear keep you from the Holy healing.